FASEB Matricellular Proteins in Development, Health, and Disease
Date: July 17-22, 2016
Location: West Palm Beach, FL, USA
Organizers: Amy D. Bradshaw, Jeffrey S. Isenberg
This conference is focused on bringing together researchers from diverse fields of study with a central theme: Matricellular proteins. These proteins include but are not limited to thrombospondins and other thrombospondin repeat proteins (TSR), tenascins, osteopontin, SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine) and SPARC-like proteins, periostin, fibulins, and the CCN family and the respective receptor and interacting proteins through which they signal. Matricellular proteins are spatially and temporally regulated components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) that have both short-range and context-specific functions that impact cell:cell interactions and cell:ECM interactions. Matricellular proteins are becoming increasingly appreciated as critical mediators of tissue homeostasis. In addition, a number of matricellular proteins have been recently recognized as key factors in pathogenesis of numerous diseases in various organs. For example, matricellular proteins regulate tumor progression, angiogenesis, immune response, calcifi cation, wound repair, cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disorders, and fi brosis. Emerging roles of matricellular proteins as biomarkers of disease and in tissue engineering applications represent other areas that are rapidly expanding. Hence, understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of action of these proteins has generated great interest both for basic research laboratories and for developing new therapeutic applications.
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